Athletes, coaches ready to spring ahead

Alexis Kavanaugh went to the state meet for girls track and field last year. The Vernon-Verona-Sherrill senior hopes to do so again in 2013 and started her quest Monday as the Red Devils began practicing.

"I'm really excited," the three-sport standout said just before her workout began on an unusually warm March 11 afternoon, with temperatures reaching the mid-50s. "I'm more excited than last year. (States) was an awesome experience."

Kavanaugh is the top sprinter on coach Todd Bauer's team and she'll no doubt lead the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. The Red Devils began on the track for the second year in a row, which was a mixed blessing to coach Todd Bauer.

"Today's going to mess us up," the veteran coach said. "We'll be out then we'll have to come back in and floors beat you up."

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Many track and field teams began the first day of the spring season on all-weather tracks knowing colder and rainier and snowier weather is forecast for the rest of the week. Bob Davis, VVS' new boys tennis coach, was in the same boat Monday, but he was just glad to have his team practicing on the school's courts.

"They put them up today," Davis said of the nets. "Our maintenance crew does a great job gettng things ready for us. I didn't expect to be outside, or for these numbers."

VVS had 13 boys at the first tennis practice and Davis expects one more Tuesday. That's more than enough to fill a team that has a handful of returnees.

"I don't mind the change," said Devin Vallee, one of the volleyball players whose season ended less than a week ago. "I can feel myself getting back into it."

Kayla Fazekas was glad to be back in VVS' girls track and field practice after dealing with injuries on and off the past year.

"I got cleared (last) Thursday," Fazekas said of her being eligible to practice at VVS. "I've been working out at Planet Fitness all winter."

Fazekas' main event is high jump and her goal is to clear 5-foot-1, and she hopes to run in the 400 and 800.

She'll get her chance to compete in three weeks as VVS and Mohawk are in a tri-meet at Clinton on April 1.

Ross Braue and Tyler Rifenburg didn't get the chance to formally compete for Canastota's boys tennis team Monday, but they worked out on their own anyway. Coach Peter Smith held an organizational meeting for the six boys on the squad then told them practice on the courts or in a gym with racquets begins Tuesday.

"I'll most likely be second singles, so I need all the practice I can get," Rifenburg said. Braue, a senior, echoed his sophomore teammate's feelings."

"To get as good as we can be, every minute counts," Braue said.

The first few minutes for VVS' softball team were spent going over rules then stretching, running and doing warm-up throws in the main gym.

The turnout was anything but for coach Gary Oliver and Randy Thomas, his new JV coach.

"We have around 30, maybe 35 for two teams," Oliver said. "I think we'll have to make some cuts. Last year we didn't have any."

Jesse Puchales doesn't have many days left in his high school career before heading off to the U.S. Marines boot camp. The last 70 or so will find the three-sport star trying to better his personal records in the shot put and discus for Canastota's boys track and field team. Since wrestling ended, he's been getting in a few throws in the big yard at his house.

"I'm hoping 52 (feet)," he said of the shot put," and in discus I want 150 feet."

Dan Simmons had hopes in Canastota as well on Monday, and he had them while watching his baseball team wind up practice with pitchers throwing 20 fastballs apiece.

"It's a gym. I'd rather be outside," Simmons said. "But it's time to get started. They're raring to go."

The Raiders managed just one win last year but should fare better in 2013 as seven players return, five of them seniors.

Coach Chris Peto's Stockbridge Valley softball team also opened in the gym Monday but planned to move outside later in the afternoon.

"I've been chomping at the bit to get back to softball after we ended last spring," said Peto. "I think we'll be pretty competitive."

Oneida track and field coach Adam Litwak had his team out on the track running laps to begin the season. He was happy with the opening-day turnout of 52 students, compared to usual numbers in the upper 30s or lower 40s.

Todd Hicks also had his boys tennis team outside at Oneida after an informational meeting to start. The team had work to do before they could play as Hicks tasked them with assembling the nets to end practice, although some players stuck around to get some hitting in before going home.